Guwahati: As many as eleven candidates, including Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Lok Sabha Deputy Leader of the Opposition Gaurav Gogoi, submitted their nomination papers on Tuesday for the first phase of the polls.
Sonowal, currently serving as the Minister for Shipping, Ports, Waterways, and Ayush, officially declared his candidacy as the BJP representative for the esteemed Dibrugarh constituency. He was joined by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and other prominent leaders from the ruling alliance.
Expressing his commitment, Sonowal wrote on X: “Today, I filed my nomination as the NDA candidate for Dibrugarh Lok Sabha constituency. I seek the blessings of the people of my very own Dibrugarh ~ my mother’s lap, my Janmabhoomi, my Karmabhoomi. With the aim of realizing Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji’s dream of building a…”
In a parallel move, Gaurav Gogoi, representing the Congress party, filed his nomination for the Jorhat constituency, accompanied by State Party President Bhupen Kumar Borah and Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Assembly, Debabrata Saikia.
Gogoi emphasized the diverse aspirations of the people he represents, stating, “Filed my nomination as the candidate of @INCIndia for the Jorhat Parliamentary Constituency today. This nomination represents aspirations of the youth, women, the marginalized, the farmers, and every hardworking person of Assam who is eager for change and development.”
With a total of 12 candidates having filed their nominations, Assam is gearing up for three-phase polls across 14 constituencies on April 19, 26, and May 7. The constituencies slated for the first phase include Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Sonitpur, and Kaziranga.
During the nomination filing process, Sonowal was accompanied by prominent leaders such as President of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) Atul Bora, United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) leader Promode Bodo, Union Minister Rameswar Teli, and State Party President Bhabesh Kalita.
Despite adverse weather conditions, Sonowal’s rally witnessed a significant turnout of BJP supporters, demonstrating strong grassroots support.
Sonowal, a former representative of the constituency in 2004, will face competition from Lurinjyoti Gogoi of the United Opposition Front, Assam (UOFA), who also filed his nomination on the same day.
Meanwhile, Gaurav Gogoi, clad in traditional attire, led a procession to file his nomination papers in Jorhat, symbolizing a continuation of his late father Tarun Gogoi’s legacy in the region.
Following religious rituals, Gogoi expressed his aspirations for Assam’s peace and prosperity, echoing sentiments shared by constituents across the state.
Looking ahead, the main contest in Jorhat will be between Gaurav Gogoi and BJP’s sitting MP Topon Gogoi.
In addition to Dibrugarh and Jorhat, nominations were filed in other constituencies, including Lakhimpur, Kaziranga, and Sonitpur, signaling a dynamic political landscape in Assam.
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